1Volume 30, Issue 3

BANTRAK NewsletterVolume 30, Issue 3March 2017

The Engineer’s Cab: Tim Nixon

Remembering Bob Mohr My column for February had already been written and submitted to David Betz for publication by the time I learned that Bob Mohr had left us, so I didn’t have a chance to reflect on what he meant to the club. Bob was a huge part of BANTRAK from the very begin-ning and his passing leaves a huge hole in our club. He was one of the founding members of Greater Baltimore N-Scale Associates (GBNSA), BANTRAK’s original name, back in 1983 and was a member until his death. Bob did so much for this organization, it’s probably fair to say that BANTRAK wouldn’t be the respected organization it is today without Bob. He was BAN-TRAK’s first official treasurer in the early 90’s, (prior to that a single member served as both president and treasurer) and developed many of the financial procedures and reports that BANTRAK still uses. Bob served as treasurer and unofficial club historian for close to 15 years, until July of 2007 when his tremors started making writing difficult and chose to step aside in my favor. That colorful club logo on our banners, skirting, and apparel; Bob designed that and provided the initial artwork. He added that same logo to our rolling stock when he chaired the committees that designed the 20th, 25th and 30th anniversary club cars. Work sessions? Bob was always there to lend a hand, whether it was building the current club yard, the Elli-cott City layout for the B&O museum, the peacemaker switch boxes, or installing power poles on club modules and equipment. Bob was also in many ways the club “peacemaker”. When a controversial issue came up, he would patiently listen to all sides, determine the available options, and clearly pres-ent them to the membership; once Bob spoke, there was usually nothing more than needed to be said and it was time to call a vote. Above all though, Bob was a modeler; over the years he built at least 9 modules of his own, culminating in his 5-module City scene that won numerous awards over the years and formed the core of his long awaited home layout after it was retired from the show circuit. Bob also scratch built, painted, and detailed locomotives and rolling stock. Bob’s projects were a regular part of our monthly show & tell, just about every month Bob would show up with a sheaf of prototype photos and a box with his latest creation, be it a tool car for the UP steam special, a steam generator car, or a Superdome in Chessie colors. Bob will be sorely missed and we are a poorer for his passing.

Tim Nixon

In the issue...The Engineer’s Cab .................... 1B&O show .................................. 2T-Trak update ............................. 3Hunterline ............................... 4-6DUES .......................................... 7NScale weekend ......................... 8Train Spotting ............................ 9Calendar .................................. 10

Next Meeting..

March 19th

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B&O Greenberg Show: Chris Hyland

Besides the Festival of Trains, the B&O museum has many activities that happen through-out the year. For the last couple years, they have done a Model Train show to boost visitor atten-dance. This year Greenberg Train Shows was asked to do this event and in turn they asked us to help out by providing one of the few layouts in the show. On Friday, Ed, Dave Clyde and myself went to Track 13 in the Mt. Claire Roundhouse. There we set up a small T-Trak layout. Dave pro-vided most of the modules, plus electrics and the Hylands provided the corners, yard and tables. We got in at 3 PM on the dot and were set up and gone by 4:30pm. The next day the show opened at 10am. Being vendors, we were admitted around 8:30am. The show was small, with most of the vendors on the turntable, with a few others scattered around the roundhouse. There were all sorts of vendors from the B&O clearing out various items from long ago, to Peanut Butter selling used NSC N scale cars at 15 bucks each. Also there were a few manufac-turers, such as Bachmann and Scale Trains show-ing off things that they are currently making and hinting at things that they will produce, like the Turbine that Scale Trains recently released. Great news, more stuff coming in N scale! On the Mu-seum side of things, it was neat to see some of the equipment that we normally don’t get a chance to during the Festival of Trains. We got a chance to

see the cat that now lives in the Car Shop. What a cute fuzzball. Our happy group consisted of Leon, Fran-cis, David Clyde, Chris, Pat, Ed, Jeff Peck, Christian Peck, Tom Long, Matt G-L, as well as Jack Walsh. We ran all sorts of trains to show, and let folks know how good N scale is and why one should jump in with both feet. The crowd was much dif-ferent than the crowd we get a Timonium, so we felt that we reached out to people that normally do not get a chance to see either N scale or T-Trak. We ran until 4pm and then shut down for our first day. Sunday was more of the same. We had additional people come and visit us. Lindsay and a friend showed up to see the layout as well as Al Del Gaudio. All of us had a good time seeing the show, visiting the museum and running trains. We tore the layout down at 4pm and were out of the museum at exactly 4:15pm! That has to be some sort of record. Thank you to all who came out for the show. Thank you also to both Frank Hicks for encouraging us to set up and also Jack Walsh for putting up with us as well. We kept our hands to ourselves and didn’t touch any of the shiny steam engines. We promise! We hope that this event continues on and we get another bite at the apple next year.

Chris

The Engineer’s Cab: Tim Nixon

Housekeeping Stuff

I will be hosting the March meeting at the Severna Park Library, 45 West McKinsey Rd. Severna Park, MD, on March 19th. The meeting will start at 2 PM and we will need to be out by 4:45 since the library closes at 5 PM. We will be meeting in the conference room, since the main meeting room was already booked. Items on the agenda include the April Scale Show, the raffle layout, and discussion on doing a layout for the B&O’s Ellicott City Museum.

April Scale Show is the weekend of April 8th and 9th, with set-up starting at noon on April 7th. Lauren Baker is coordinating with Eric Payne assisting; contact them if you have questions.

Tim Nixon

3Volume 30, Issue 3

T-Trak Update / Editorial: Chris Hyland

“Good times, bad times, you know I’ve had my share” as the band Led Zeppelin put it. January and the beginning of February had been a bit like being in a war. A few mo-ments of shear terror and sadness followed by long bouts of boredom and just plain busy work. In January we really only did one event. But it was a two-day set up at S&P. How refreshing it is nice to show up, run trains, then go home, and run some trains the next day. Shortly afterwards we did the Great Scale show. Wow was it busy. Big layout, we met tons of people, and bought tons of stuff. Then saw the wildest Super bowl since the Saints played the Colts. More will be written about these events next month due to recent events in the club. We have the B&O show at the end February, and coming up in the future is the South Mountain NMRA Minicon. The first show that I know of that T-Trak and N scale were shown to a NMRA division and it re-ally stuck with them. Their “Meet and Take” is building T-Trak modules!!! Look forward to meeting some new people on joint events. Welcome aboard fellow Model Railroad Brothers and Sisters from South Mountain on the T-Trak experience! Now I have to come to the sad part of this article and why things are a bit more rushed than normal. If you thought that the end of 2016 was rough: Hello 2017!!!!! Along with the CELB last run roll call two events have happened that hit close to home. First, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus is pulling down the tents for the last time. They are supposedly coming to this area soon, and then they are off to history. I know right now tears are running down the cheeks of clowns as they pack up the big top for the final time. To you I wish Bon Chance and thanks for entertaining decades of little

and big kids from every generation by showing them a taste of the big wide world. Finally and certainly not last: Bob Mohr passed away. He was one of the original mem-bers and he made me feel welcome when I joined Bantrak. He was a member of our T Trak list because he always said he was going to get a module built someday. He was an excellent modeler. A modeler that was so good, that as soon as he built something of fine craftsman-ship and a lot of painstaking skill, Atlas would make the car for 20 bucks the next week. He had some of the greatest modules I have seen in Ntrak with his city metropolis that seemed to go on for ever and was a keystone for the Bantrak layout for many years. Also he was a good friend. I enjoyed talking to him about the trials and tribulations of maintaining horses. My mother had been an equestrian rider at one point. Bob knew, as I did, that one of the most majestic animals out there could make your life absolutely miserable by getting sick at 3:30 in the morning. And his greyhounds that loved to walk half a block and want to be carried home. Even though we did not see eye to eye on everything regarding how the club did its business, I will always think of him as a friend first, a great modeler, second, and one of us T Trakers as well. Bob, you will be missed.

-Chris

4Volume 30, Issue 3

The HUNTERLINE 30’ King Truss Bridge: Bruce Tharp

Only recently have I discovered the HUNTERLINE bridge products. I started my first project 3 or so months ago. That project is on hold for a bit while I think the next steps through. I started with a fairly massive project for N scale and my first wood structure. Some of the steps require some very precise angle cuts and drilling so I set it aside for a bit. The purchase of the kit led to a few conversations with the owner, Richard Hunter. With phone calls and emails Richard imme-diately demonstrated his commitment to the builders’ satisfaction. Though I’ve not built a wood structure, I’ve built a few real buildings and can read a set of plans. Looking at the plans and the lumber provided I knew the kit couldn’t be built as provided. I called Richard and asked for instructions on how to make the angles because I didn’t think it could be done with the lumber I had in the kit. Oh my, he said in his nice Canadian accent, a few kits got out with that lumber. He immediately sent me a replacement kit with a comment to use the first kit to build a shorter bridge once I got the hang of it. Following up with Richard and his wife when they were at the Scale Show in October ’16, he offered many tips and hints. This is when I decided to step back to a couple of easier kits to start with. Hence, this 30’ King Truss Bridge. This King Truss bridge kit is pre 1880 style. The wooden king post are the giveaway. Later bridges would use steel rods for the posts allowing for more weight and longer spans (that little tidbit of information comes from the kit instructions). The package comes with all the lumber, a #80 drill bit, a set of plans, a picture of what the completed item should look like, and the recommended as-sembly instructions.

Most of the instructions deal with procedure, hints and history. I recommend reading through them a few times before you start on the kit. They are written somewhat like I write, a bit of rambling to get to the point sometimes. It’s not a Step 1, step 2, step3 instruction style. When building this model you make a choice as to the width of the bridge before you start. This dictates the cuts and which portion of the plans you will use. From there you move to the actual instructions. My first step, not in the instructions, is to make two copies of the plans; one as sheet of paper and the second as a PDF file for fu-ture use. Richard comments that the plans can be used to build longer or shorter bridges as you get the experience. In my case the plans are a bit cut up when I’m done because I cut the lumber to length directly on the plans for size. I use a bamboo cutting board for my work space when building this type of kit. I pick them up pretty cheap at TJ Maxx. Often 4 for $5 or so. They are the right size, light and easily cleaned afterwards. Following the instructions and tips, one of the best is using a cutting board to layout the plans, then covering the plans with wax paper.

5Volume 30, Issue 3

The HUNTERLINE 30’ King Truss Bridge: Bruce Tharp

Bear in mind an experienced modeler could probably knock this out on a couple of hours one evening. Me, it’s going to take a couple of days. First, I’ve got to stain the ties and other lumber. I’m still insisting on doing these individually so I’ve got an evening cutting and staining lumber.

Now things will move a little faster. With the ties, cords, and stringers cut and stained this assembly portion is fairly easy. I use the plans for precise placement of the lumber. I start with just a few ties on the stringers to get the alignment started correctly.

Once square it is much easier to eye-ball the layout of the remaining ties. When building this I use Elmers Wood glue and a small toothpick to apply. All stains are pig-mented India ink pens with a brush nib by Faber-Castell.

6Volume 30, Issue 3

The HUNTERLINE 30’ King Truss Bridge: Bruce Tharp

The next step was frustrating for me. Getting the braces cut at the proper angle is usually exceptionally difficult; however there are good guides on the plans to do so. The diagonal brace needs to be cut as a support rest to support horizontal and vertical pres-sures. That cut was difficult given the size of the wood. Enough so I forgot to take the pictures for that entire process. Maybe next time. The bridge is fairly complete now. I have yet to add the required bolts in each section where large ones would be found. I am looking for an alternative to the ones in-cluded with the kit. They appear too large for N scale. They are the standard Titchy N scale bolts. I will not be using them. I am weather-ing the bridge with Pan Pastels and additional India inks. I would like to find an acrylic gel that I can dap on the model in place of the bolts. If found I could fill both the large and small bolt housings.

I will not be adding rail to this bridge. My plans are to use this as a foot bridge on a section of abandoned line converted to a rail trail running alongside a mainline. I will need to add structural lumber in place of rail for people to walk across safely.

I’m hoping you see that module soon.

Bruce Tharp

7Volume 30, Issue 3

Dues Invoice:

Baltimore Area Ntrak Club Dues Invoice

Payable to: Baltimore Area N-Trak Invoice Date:

February 3, 2017 Due Date:

April 7, 2017

Remit to: Mr. Alan Del Gaudio 2905 Montclair Drive Ellicott City, MD, 21043 Or pay at February or March meetings

Annual Club Dues (Including National N-Trak Membership) $30.00

Member Name: Please Print

N-Trak Member Number:

Please print a copy of this invoice and submit with payment.

For Treasurer’s Use

Date Submitted: Check #:

Member’s Receipt

Name: Date: Amount: Alan Del Gaudio

E-mail & Phone:

8Volume 30, Issue 3

9Volume 30, Issue 3

Train Spotting: John Bunge

BANTRAK Membership: Al Palewicz

BANTRAK does a significant amount of charitable activity, although we rarely think of it that way because we get pleasure out of it. When you think about it, that is as it should be with all giving from the heart. What is our charitable activity? Our major participation is in the B&O Museum’s (which is a charitable organization) Annual Festival of Trains. Our display has been a ma-jor draw for people to come to the Museum for many years, both recent and in the past. There are plenty more examples, this is just one. Please contact Treasurer Alan Del Gaudio for more information regarding your membership status and roster questions or contact Al Palewicz with general questions.

Member Benefits:• Sharing of your

knowledge (rail-roading & model-ing) with others of similar interests

• Access to railroad-ing and modeling knowledge of other members

• National exposure and recognition of your endeavors in modeling

• Hands on activi-ties: Club modules - track, wiring and scenery. Raffle layout - track and scenery Members’ layouts

• Recognition as being part of a Nationally known club.

B&O ten wheeler #2020 passes over the high bridge as 44 tonner #20 pulls a local,

on my under-the-bed layout.

10Volume 30, Issue 3

BANTRAK 2016 CALENDAR

BANTRAK CALL BOARDCLUB WORK SESSION 2016-2017Contact Tim Nixon, Eric Payne or Ed Kapuscinski for work session information.

BANTRAK was founded in 1983 as the Greater Baltimore N-Scale Associates. Begun as a “round robin” group to share skills and experiences, we have expanded our focus to include participa-tion in many diverse activities to promote model railroading in general and N-Scale model rail-roading in particular. Activities include participation in local, regional and national shows, meets and conventions. BANTRAK membership includes membership in the national NTRAK organiza-tion. The BANTRAK Newsletter is the official publication of Baltimore Area N-TRAK (BANTRAK), Inc. This is your newsletter! Please send articles, photos, and suggestions to newsletter@bantrak.netEditor: David Betz

Date Event Location Contact TypeMarch 19th Club Meeting Severna Park Library Tim Nixon Meeting

April 1st Ranson Show Ranson WV Chris Hyland T-Trak

April 8 & 9th Great Scale Show Timonium Fairgrounds Lauren Baker Full Show

April 9th Club Meeting Timonium Fairgrounds Tim Nixon Meeting

May 21st Club Meeting TBD Tim Nixon Meeting

June 17th Club Meeting Timonium Fairgrounds Tim Nixon Meeting

June 21st-25th National N Scale Convention

Pittsburgh PA Alan del Gaudio Show

August 18-20th N-Scale Weekend Altoona PA TBD Show